Dubai Desert Tour and Safari
If there’s one thing we highly recommend doing in Dubai, it’s a desert tour! It’s an adventure that ranks among the unique experiences to have in the United Arab Emirates. It’s authentic—a world apart from Dubai’s glitzy image… and that’s exactly what you’ll love!
Whether you’re an adventurer seeking thrills or looking for tranquility and a connection with nature, there are several ways to explore the Dubai desert.
It’s one of our absolute favorites, so we’re sharing our tips and first-hand experience with you!
The Dubai Desert
Not long ago, Dubai was a fishing village lost in the middle of the Dubai desert. It’is precisely why we recommend adding this excursion to your itinerary. It’s part of the city’s DNA and promises to be a memorable experience.
And even though you’ll catch a glimpse of the desert from theBurj Khalifa observation deck, nothing beats the feeling of being in the middle of this endless expanse of sand! Crossing the Dubai desert in a 4×4 and touching that magnificent red sand will be an unforgettable highlight of your trip.
What is a Desert Safari?
In Dubai, this activity is called a desert safari, but don’t expect to encounter wild animals. A Dubai safari refers to driving through the desert in a 4×4 at a sporty pace.
Our selection of the best desert safaris in Dubai
Many desert safaris and excursions are offered by various providers. Here are the ones we recommend.
4×4 Desert Safari, camel rides, and sandboarding
This is the basic tour (note: this is not meant to be derogatory, nor is it a low-quality tour).
Tour price: €36 per person
What’s on the itinerary:
- You’ll set out early in the morning in a 4×4 toward the Dubai Desert
- You’ll stop to ride ATVs or buggies in the dunes (optional activity, additional fee applies) and to drink tea
- You’ll head into the desert by 4×4 for 40 minutes of dune bashing
- After a photo stop, you’ll try your hand at sandboarding (surfing on the sand dunes)
- You’ll end the day with a camel ride
An attractive price
A short experience (you’ll spend just as much time in the 4×4 as you will in the desert). No dinner-and-show in the evening
Desert Tour with 4×4, Camel Ride, and Sandboarding + VIP Barbecue Dinner
This is the tour we tried out (read our review)
Price of the tour: €76 per person
On the itinerary:
- You’ll depart in the early afternoon (picked up by 4×4 at your hotel)
- First stop before heading into the desert for a quad bike/buggy session in the dunes (optional activity at an additional cost)
- Your adventure begins with a 4×4 desert safari, offering 40 minutes of a thrilling dune-crossing experience
- After a well-deserved photo stop, you’ll embark on a sandboarding session and glide down the sand dunes
- To top it all off, you’ll end your day with a camel ride at sunset and an evening of dinner and oriental entertainment
Excellent value for money
Not much…
4×4 Safari + Overnight Stay in the Dubai Desert
This option perfectly complements the experience. In addition to a full day in the desert, you can add a night in a Bedouin camp (with all amenities).
Price of the tour: €142 per person
What’s on the itinerary:
- This is the same itinerary as the VIP dinner tour, plus an overnight stay at a desert camp in Dubai
- After the evening dance show, you can gaze at the stars before retiring to your camp bed.
- You’ll be woken up 30 minutes before sunrise to watch the sun rise. Breakfast is included
A complete experience in the Dubai desert!
A slightly higher price than the version without an overnight stay (and your hotel night paid for unnecessarily)
A Different Way to Explore the Dubai Desert
A 4×4 safari through the dunes isn’t the only way to explore the Dubai desert. Here are some other excursions that will let you discover the desert from a different perspective.
Hot Air Balloon Ride Over the Dubai Desert
Another activity we recommend is the hot-air balloon ride over the desert. Here, you’ll experience a whole new set of sensations…. Dizzying, but absolutely incredible! You’ll get a sense of the vastness of the Dubai desert and be able to take some magnificent photos.
Price of the tour: 266 € per person
Visiting the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is a protected desert area where you cannot move about freely. You must be accompanied by a guide. There, you can see oryxes and gazelles roaming freely. This tour offers you the chance to discover Dubai’s flora and fauna.
Tour price: 180 € per person
The famous 5-star Al Maha Hotel is located right in the middle of this area. You can also enjoy breakfast there (included in the tour)
Our Review:
4×4 Desert Tour + VIP Evening Dinner
If this is your first trip to the Emirate of Dubai, we recommend starting with a day trip that doesn’t include an overnight stay in the desert. Camel ride, sandboarding down the dunes, a falconry show, and a VIP barbecue dinner. We tried it out, and here’s what we thought!
1. Pickup from your hotel or apartment
A driver in an air-conditioned 4×4 will pick you up directly from your accommodation or hotel. The vehicle typically seats 6 people. You’ll likely stop to pick up other guests at their hotels.
2. First stop at the edge of the desert
For the adventurous, you’ll have the option to take a short quad bike tour or a buggy ride through the desert dunes (about 20 minutes—additional fee applies) or enjoy a complimentary cup of tea or coffee. There’s also a shop where you can buy souvenirs such as cheches or head jewelry for women. Meanwhile, your driver will take the opportunity to prepare the 4×4 andinflate the tires a bit… before heading out onto the trails through the sand dunes.
3. Dune bashing: 4×4 in the dunes of the Dubai Desert
You’ll head into the red dunes of the Dubai Desert, in the Lahbab region. This activity lasts about 40 minutes. Your driver will take great delight in racing across the dunes at full speed. Be warned, you’ll need a strong stomach! It’s a bumpy ride, but it’s a lot of fun 🙂
4. Sand dune surfing and photo session
After 40 minutes of dune bashing, it’s time for a well-deserved break right in the middle of the Dubai desert. This was the best moment we had in the desert! We stayed quite a while amidst these vast expanses of sand and dunes stretching as far as the eye can see. It’s INCREDIBLE—the scenery is breathtaking!
You’ll also have the chance to take photos and videos. Our driver played along and took some wonderful souvenir photos of our family with our kids.
You can then race down the sand dunes on a sandboard.
Fun guaranteed 😀
5. Camel Ride and Evening at the Camp
Upon arriving at the camp, we enjoyed a short camel ride. The kids loved the experience. Be careful—hold on tight when the camel stands up 🙂
Then you can enter the camp. While waiting for the show to begin, you’ll have access to various activities and shops. In particular, you can take photos with a falcon, smoke shisha, get henna tattoos, …
A typical and truly delicious meal (a very pleasant surprise for a tourist excursion) will be served buffet-style. You can enjoy it while watching the belly dance and fire-breathing show.
6. Return to Dubai, to your hotel
After this action-packed day, your driver will take you back to your hotel or accommodation in a 4×4 (departure from the camp around 11:00 PM).
How to book your desert safari tour + VIP evening?
- First, enter your preferred date and the number of participants.
- Next, specify your hotel address so that the driver can pick you up on the day of the tour.
- After paying for your activity, you will receive a voucher. Be sure to keep it safe!
- The day before and on the day of the tour, the driver will send you messages (via WhatsApp or text) to provide you with his exact arrival time and instructions.
Our comparison chart of the different desert safaris
| Morning 4×4 Desert Safari | 4×4 Desert Safari + VIP Evening | 4×4 Safari + VIP Evening + Overnight in the Desert | Reserve tour + breakfast | Hot air balloon ride + desert safari | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dune Bashing | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Camel Ride | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Sandboarding | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Dinner show | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Overnight in the desert | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Nature Reserve Tour | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Breakfast | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Hot-air balloon ride | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Options | ATV/Buggy | ATV/Buggy | / | / | Video of the flight |
| Price | 36 € /person | 76 € /person | 142 € /person | 180 € per person. | 266 € per person. |
| Reservation | Book | Book | Book | Book | Book |
Our Review of the Dubai Desert Safari
This is an exceptional and truly unique activity. Definitely one of the most beautiful moments we’ve experienced in Dubai. A fantastic day for both adults and children, who still talk about it regularly.
You’ll likely come across negative reviews claiming that safaris in the Dubai desert are very touristy. Which isn’t entirely untrue… since it’s the only way to get into the desert (you can’t go there on your own without a guide).
The tour lasts 7 hours and is truly comprehensive. It’s excellent value for money 👍. Keep in mind that the evening meal is included. That’s no small thing when you consider how expensive eating out in Dubai is… The attentive guide-driver and the high-quality dinner show didn’t give us the impression of a tourist trap. It’s hard to find a cheaper activity in Dubai, especially one that includes a meal. We’d recommend it in a heartbeat! 🙂
Where is the Dubai Desert?
This desert is called Rub al Khali (Empty Quarter). It is one of the largest deserts in the world. It covers approximately 650,000 km² of the Arabian Peninsula. It lies mainly within Saudi Arabia but also extends into the United Arab Emirates as well as Yemen and Oman.
Located just 30 km from Dubai, you cannot, however, access it on your own. If you want to enjoy this natural landscape, you must book a tour. Driving on sand is very different, and the vastness of the dunes can make you lose your sense of direction. With 4×4 drivers who enjoy pushing the limits, the experience can be quite disorienting 🙂
There are several desert areas near Dubai. The best known is called Lahbab.